High Cheese

The Phillies' Roy Halladay was named the National League Outstanding Pitcher today in the Players Choice Awards.

The announcement was made by the Major League Baseball Players Association on ESPN Radio this morning.

Halladay led all big-league pitchers in wins (21), shutouts (4), complete games (9) and innings pitched (250.2). The seven-time All Star finished second in the NL with 219 strikeouts and third with a 2.44 ERA – the second lowest ERA in his 13-year career (2.41 in 2005).

Halladay previously was named the NL Pitcher of the Year by The Sporting News in a vote of players, general managers and league executives.

Tampa Bay's David Price was named the Outstanding Pitcher in the American League.

Halladay will receive $20,000 to donate to a charity through the MLB Players Trust, a charitable foundation created and run by the players themselves. The Players Trust raises funds and attention for issues affecting the needy and promotes community involvement.

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Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz was among the three winners of the Pride of Philly awards from the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame.

He joined the national championship Villanova football team and Boston College’s Mark Herzlich, from Conestoga High.

Ruiz led the Phillies in hitting and played superbly behind the plate to help guide the pitching staff to a team ERA of 3.68.

Villanova went 14-1 record in 2009 and beat Montana for the FCS championship. Herzlich overcame Ewing's sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, to return to the team for his senior year at BC.

The three honorees will be represented at the Hall's Class VII Induction Ceremonies on Nov. 11 at the Sheraton Society Hill.